October Term 2020 · Docket 19-1155
Does the credibility presumption bind federal courts reviewing asylum denials?
the sides that brought the case seek to enforce a credibility presumption in federal court reviews. the opposing sides argue courts should ignore this presumption when checking agency decisions.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Ms. Sinzdak argued the statute places the burden of proof on the asylum seeker.
She stated testimony must be persuasive and outweigh other evidence to meet that burden.
Mr. Katyal noted the government initially claimed courts should not enforce the presumption.
He argued the government now accepts the presumption applies in federal court reviews.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 41-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 41-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 47-33 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 47-33
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests how federal courts review asylum denials. The core dispute involves the legal weight of a credibility presumption. the sides that brought the case argue this presumption limits judicial review. the opposing sides argue courts must ignore it during substantial evidence checks.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 41-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 41-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 47-33 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 47-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 23, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 49-13
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want federal courts to enforce the credibility presumption when reviewing agency decisions.
the opposing sides want federal courts to ignore the credibility presumption during substantial evidence review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 41-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 41-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 47-33 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 47-33
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the presumption limits judicial review to what the agency actually said.
the opposing sides argue the presumption does not apply when courts conduct substantial evidence review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 41-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 41-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 47-33 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 47-33
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked how much explanation proves an implicit credibility finding.
Justice Thomas asked if physical evidence affects both credibility and persuasiveness equally.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 51-19
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of judicial review for asylum seekers. It determines whether courts must defer to agency credibility findings. The outcome shapes the legal path for future immigration appeals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 41-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 41-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 47-33 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 47-33
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 21-45 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 51-19
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 41-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 41-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 47-33 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 47-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 41-35 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 41-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 99, lines 47-33 — Transcript, file page 99, lines 47-33
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.